Hairspray (2007)

Brief: Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) dreams of landing a spot on The Corny Collins (James Marsden) Show, a sort of local American Bandstand, despite her plus-sized frame and her mother's (John Travolta) objections. Hair height lands her in detention with Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), who teaches Tracy some new moves that help her get the attention of Corny and her crush, Link Larkin (Zac Efron). Seaweed's help catches the attention of Tracy's best friend, Penny (Amanda Bynes). With the help of Seaweed's mom, Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah), the host of the show's monthly "Negro Day," Tracy begins pushing the show toward integration against the wishes of studio manager Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow).

Confession: I read reviews before going to see this. I wasn't entirely sure about the movie to Broadway to movie transition. Didn't work so well for The Producers, after all. I've also seen it on stage and liked it on stage, which made me wonder if this version would fill me with rage, à la Rent. Yet by the time Blonsky had finished belting out "Good Morning, Baltimore," John Waters had shown up to grant his blessing, and I was smitten. Newcomer Blonsky is a treat in this candy-coloured world, perfectly showcasing Tracy's bubbly enthusiasm.

I must say that I didn't have a problem with Travolta playing it straight in a fat suit, and I don't think you should either. I have no real connection to the role as a gay icon, but I can tell you Travlota gets fussy and maternal with the best of them. The way he finds a new centre of gravity for each role is something to be relished. His graceful waltz with Christopher Walken* as Wilbur is delightful and reminds us what they both can do. By the time Travolta busts out the Grease moves in the finale, they feel earned.

*Is there a reason Walken's head appears to be getting bigger while his body mass is shrinking? Did anyone else notice this, particularly when he was on The Daily Show last week?

For a musical packed to the brims with showstoppers, none compare to the finale on stage, a number which manages to fill the entire theatre regardless of where you see it. So it's strange that the finale on film feels airless at times and seems to showcase everything that went wrong with this adaptation: Queen Latifah's oddly quiet performance; lack of redemption for Penny's mother (the always fantastic Allison Janney), Velma, and Amber; the de-sexualized relationships between Tracy and Link, and Penny and Seaweed; Penny's marginalized character; director and choreographer Adam Shankman's occasionally bizarre camera choices.

Still there's a lot to love, from Kelley's astounding performance (I am so with Dana on this one) to Pfeiffer's ice cold one to the sugar rush that follows pretty much every musical number. Besides, the movie did correct what I consider to be the musical's biggest mistake: Link dumps Amber this time around, making Tracy his first choice. As it should be. B+

P.S. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favourite number, both on stage and in this version: "Welcome to the 60s," in which Tracy convinces her housebound mother to go outside for the first time in over a decade. This time around it features Jerry Stiller (famous original Wilbur) as Mr. Pinky.